Josh Gayle
The 2025 NBA Finals have arrived and things get started with Game 1 in Oklahoma City between the East’s Pacers and the West’s Thunder. OKC is an overwhelming -700 favorite to win this series after posting an unbelievable 29-1 record against the Eastern Conference this season, but Indiana will be hopeful they can keep things competitive. With that in mind, let’s get into my best Pacers vs Thunder player prop bet for tonight’s Game 1. I’m 12-3 on NBA player props for Pickswise this season, so let’s keep that run going and cash another winner tonight! You can also find out our NBA picks with our Pacers vs Thunder Game 1 predictions as well as every matchup in the NBA Finals.
Read our NBA Finals expert roundtable predictions with best bets from 5 of our handicappers, with 4 of them aligned on a pick at +250 odds!
Best Pacers vs Thunder Player Prop Bet: TJ McConnell over 0.5 1st-quarter assists (-140)
Odds available at Fanatics Sportsbook at time of publishing.
This is a bet that I can keep short and sweet. In the 2025 NBA Finals, you will see bets that are perfectly priced in terms of odds listed, but we like to take the wacky ones. TJ McConnell has a 1st-quarter assist in 9 of his last 10 games during the NBA Playoffs, which is absolutely incredible. He will be overlooked, but he is a complete weapon for the Pacers in these finals with his elite playmaking ability and veteran presence. I like him to get an early assist for us against a fast-paced OKC team that likes to run. Most player prop bets this late into the postseason will have hit rates in the 50s or 60s, and we’ve found a hidden gem here that is hitting at over 90% in these playoffs. Let’s roll!
Lock in our Pacers vs Thunder Same Game Parlay picks for Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals at +310 odds
